The Ravens Give Gifts Of Gratitude

Jacoby Jones meeting with New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu during the press conference. (Photo taken by WBAL-TV)

The motorcyles given by the Ravens. (Photo courtesy of WBAL-TV)

The Baltimore Ravens are not only World Champions, but they are also big givers.

As a æthank youÆ gift to the New Orleans Police Department Traffic Division, the Ravens recently gave them two 2013 Harley Davidson FLHP motorcycles.

Wide receiver Jacoby Jones presented the motorcycles on behalf of the Ravens during a recent press conference held at the New Orleans Police Department Special Operations Division.New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and police superintendent Ronal Serpas were there to accept the bikes.

ôI always talk to my teammates about southern hospitality, and the fact that it was on display enough during our Super Bowl week and to have the Ravens donate something to the great people of New Orleans is special,ö Jones, a New Orleans native, said. ôWinning the World Championship in my hometown and then being able to do something to help the people who protect it is a great feeling.ö

The Ravens said they wanted to give the gift to the police as a 'thank you' for their hospitality, friendliness, and service during the week of the Super Bowl XLVII. During their time in New Orleans, the police escorted the team to and from their destination and provided 24-hour security.

ôOur officers who assisted the Ravens last month truly enjoyed being of service to this team and this organization,ö Serpas said. ôIt was an exciting opportunity, and this department was honored to be a part of it. These motorcycles are custom-made for the NOPD and are a lasting gift, as theyÆll help in our efforts to keep the people of New Orleans safe for many years to come. We canÆt thank the Ravens organization enough for their generosity.ö

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti purchased and donated the two motorcycles to the police officers. He also took out a full page ad this week in The Times Picyune to thank the city and the residents for being great hosts.

ôWe wanted to do something to show our appreciation for how well our team, our families and our fans were treated by everyone representing New Orleans,ö Bisciotti said. ôEvery place we went, the good people of New Orleans treated us with kindness and tremendous service -- across the board. It started in our team hotel, continued with the police and included many in the hospitality industry. The people of New Orleans were great.ö